I’ve been ill but music has made me stronger

THE last time SFTW met Adam Ant, two years ago, he told us: “I am a fighter.
They can hold you down, like they did me, but I’ll always be back.”

And it’s been quite a comeback for the dandy highwayman, the former Prince
Charming who is now the Blueblack Hussar.

Since then he’s toured and anyone who caught Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on New
Year’s Eve will have seen an energised performance from the man born Stuart
Goddard, now 58.

“Appearing on Jools was the first chance I’ve had to show off my new band The
Good, The Mad And The Lovely Posse,” he says.

“We’ve done loads of touring but it’s the first time we’ve played to the
British public. I’ve got such a good line-up now which makes the job easier.
We played 22 shows across the USA last year, which was a lot of work, but it
went brilliantly.

“Getting such a response from the live shows in the US, Australia and Britain
has just spurred me on. It’s been a 16, 17-year-long wait to play live but
it’s a bit like falling off a bike. A different bike though.

“And I do play the hits as well as the new stuff. I’ve been playing sets up to
two hours long and every night the set list has varied. I’ve had such a
response from the fans, I’ve been overwhelmed.”

And Adam Ant isn’t just returning to the live stage either. This week he
released his first album since Wonderful in 1995 — Adam Ant Is The Blueblack
Hussar In Marrying The Gunner’s Daughter.

Adam says: “It’s a very autobiographical album, with me being the Blueblack
Hussar.

“The past few years have been a ride and it’s obviously been a long time. Not
just the incapacitation of ill-health but I’d made the decision to get out
of music, do acting, write my book. I never realised how much I’d miss it or
needed to make this album.”

At 17 songs long, The Blueblack Hussar shows how prolific Adam has been.

“I’ve been writing a lot and changed some things around since we last met,” he
says. “It’s a double album, with four sides and a set theme. Approach-wise,
it’s almost been like going back to a time of innocence, before I started
having any commercial hits. This is something I produced with a few mates.”

One song, Vince Taylor, is about the rock ’n’ roller who inspired Ziggy
Stardust — and was written by Adam and Morrissey’s guitarist Boz Boorer,
with the idea coming from a chain an ex-girlfriend gave Adam.

“It was a beaten-up gold chain I used to wear around my wrist during the punk
days.

“He was this underground character who once OD’ed on acid in the Sixties and
went on stage one night and proclaimed he was Jesus. A tragic, absolutely
fascinating character and a good source for a song.”

Others stars homaged on the album include Kate Moss on the spiky Punk-youngirl
and Marvin Gaye on the poppy Dirty Beast.

Adam says: “I saw Kate at a Vivienne Westwood show in Paris and wanted to
write something about the fashion industry in general and people’s approach
to the fact that it is an illusion.

“It is escapism, and the fact that Kate rarely talks, does interviews or
anything adds to her iconic nature.

“Marvin, I’d met at the Motown 25 (a TV special filmed in 1983) and I watched
what would be his last performance (a year later Marvin was shot by his
father).

That’s why I wrote, ‘Listen to Marvin and weep’ — because I think it was
tragedy how his life ended. I also think he’s never really been given the
respect for being a genius songwriter and a marvellous person.”

Back to full health after a troublesome period following his diagnosis with
bipolar disorder, Adam says making this album has been part of his therapy.

“Music and the reaction I’ve had at my shows from this album have made me
stronger,” he adds.

“A lot of articles have been written about me as if I was a tragedy, about my
difficult period, but now the focus is back on the music and I’m pleased
about that — though I have no shame talking about my mental health.”

He has been in and out of psychiatric care and has been sectioned several
times. In 2002, he was sectioned after confronting a man with a starting gun
following a pub row.

“That was the worst moment of my life,” admits Adam.

“But being ill things happen, some of which are bad, and that was a situation
I never dreamed I would ever find myself in.

“Today I feel great. I work closely with my doctor and the performing, keeping
fit and the endorphins help. For anyone going through any mental health
issues, I think it’s absolutely vital to be aware of the warning signs and
talk to your doctor.

“I hope by talking about my experiences I’ve helped people.

“I’m involved in the Black Dog Campaign which promotes mental health
understanding, stops the stigma and helps people seek help.

“The Black Dog has been used as a metaphor for depression over the years and
there are black dog sculptures in public areas so people can come and touch
these dogs.

“I designed one that’s in Greenwich at the moment. I’m trying to help do
something on national TV to lift the taboo a bit. It’s a wonderful, tactile,
campaign.”

Looking ahead, Adam says his upcoming UK tour in April, plus a date at
London’s Roundhouse in May, will see him and his Posse at their best.

“It’s all go at the moment and I’m happy. Then we will be back to tour the US
and there’s also a film being made with Jamie Reynolds from The Klaxons.

“I didn’t know Jamie was a fan of my work until I heard through a filmmaker
friend.

“It’s a film about music, albeit not promoting an album. It’s not the normal
kind of film you’d go to see about a music story. It’s more of a
documentary.

“Things are going well for me — and this is all the start. It’s really a
long-term thing for me.

“I’m happy but, after everything, I will never, ever take anything for
granted.”